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Council tables Washington Boulevard trail design RFQ amid tree, outreach and funding concerns
Summary
Council debated an RFQ to design a 10-foot all-purpose trail on Washington Boulevard (80% funding cited from NOACA/ODOT) but tabled the authorization after members raised questions about tree impacts, resident outreach and whether funding submissions had been advanced without explicit council approval.
Councilmembers on June 16 debated whether to authorize advertising for design services for a 10-foot all-purpose asphalt trail along Washington Boulevard that would connect Walter Stinson Park to Cain Park.
City Engineer Brenda Mockbee described the trail as replacing a five-foot sidewalk with a 10-foot asphalt path largely within an 80-foot right-of-way and said an anticipated 80% of construction funding would come from NOACA and ODOT. Several councilmembers expressed concern about tree impacts, resident outreach and the funding path.
"I counted 99 trees," Councilmember Sheri Sax said, asking how many trees would be affected and whether the tree ordinance had been considered. Councilmember Winifred Weizer said she was troubled that project materials show a local share of about $448,000 and suggested the project had been submitted to NOACA and placed on an ODOT track list without explicit Council authorization; she asked for documentation of how that happened.
Councilmember Brian King noted the trail was part of the Heights Regional Active Transportation Plan previously adopted and said design work would clarify tree impacts and costs; he moved to table the authorization in order to gather more information. The motion to table passed on a unanimous vote.
What happens next: Tabling preserves the Council's ability to request an RFQ later after staff provides more detailed environmental/tree-impact information, resident outreach plans and clarification about any earlier submissions to NOACA or ODOT.
